Measuring and dispensing container



Sent. 17, 1957 K. L. HALVERSO N MEASURING AND DISPENSfN -GdNTAINER' Filed July 8, 1955 2,806,639 MEASURING AND DISPENSING CONTAINER Kenneth L. Halvei'son, Onalaska, Wis.

Application July 8, 1955, Serial No. 520,711 3 Claims. (Cl. 222450) This invention relates to measuring and dispensing containers and particularly to such containers for measuring and dispensing condiments or other elements of food specified by recipes.

It is an object of this invention to provide a container which will store material without leakage and. Without contamination from sources outside the container.

It is another object of the invention to provide a container of translucent material which will permit the contained material to be observed from without for identification and measurement.

It is another object of the invention to provide valve actuating means which are easily manipulated by the fingers of the hand which holds the container.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a container which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and which is easily assembled and opened for refilling.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds to describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my measuring and dispensing container;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the bottom portion of the container showing the dispensing chamber and indicia thereon.

The body of the container has a storage chamber 12, a measuring chamber 14 in communication with said storage chamber 12, and a base portion 16. The storage chamber 12 and the measuring chamber 14 are of translucent or transparent material in order to permit the contents thereof to be observed. The base portion 16 may be of suitable rigid material, however I prefer to make the body 10 of unitary construction in which the material is a plastic.

A cover 17 fits over the open upper end of the storage chamber 12 and has a downwardly extending flange 18 which engages a rounded outwardly extending lip 20 of the storage chamber 12. The flange 18 has a groove 22 shaped to receive the lip 20. The flange 18 has an outwardly flaring cam portion 24. The cover 17 is sufficiently resilient to permit it to be forced downwardly over the lip 20 with the cam portion 24 of the flange engaging the lip 20 to deform the flange 18 outwardly. Upon further downward movement of the cover 17 the lip 20 snaps into place in the groove 22 of the flange 18.

A filler plug 26 is frictionally held in an opening 28 in the cover 17. The filler plug 26 has a tapered end 30 to guide the plug into place and a flange 32 which engages the outer surface of the cover 17. The filler plug 26 may be removed to permit filling of the storage chamber 12.

A valve member 34 extends through the cover 17 and I United States Patent ice storage chamber 12. Valve seat 46 has a frusto conical.

opening 50 having an apex angle of substantially 45".

An annular flange 52 extends from cover 17 and engages 'handle 36. A downward force exertedon the outer portion of handle 36 pivots the handle 36 about flange 52 as a fulcrum and moves valve member 34 upwardly against the force of annular member 40. Upward movement of valve member 34 removes plug 44 from contact with valve seat 46 and permits material to flow from the storage chamber 12 to the measuring chamber 14. When the desired amount of material has entered chamber 14 as shown by indicia 54 the handle 36 is released and annular member 40 expands thus forcing plug 44 into closing position with respect to valve seat 46.

Secured to the base portion 16 by a rivet 56 is a spring member 58 having a handle 60 extending upwardly through a hole 62 in the base portion 16. Riveted to the end of member 58 is a conical valve plug 64 having an apex angle of substantially 45 degrees. A flanged valve seat 66 of resilient material such as rubber extends into measuring chamber 14 and has a frusto-conical opening 68 with an apex angle of substantially 45 degrees. Spring member 58 normally holds plug 64 in contact with valve seat 66 and thus prevents material from leaving the measuring chamber. However manipulation of handle 60 toward chamber 14 moves plug 64 from valve seat 66 and the material in chamber 14 flows therefrom by gravity.

The device is of such a size that it may be grasped in one hand while one finger operates handle 36 to put a measured amount of material in the measuring chamber 14 and another finger operates handle 60 to dispense the measured amount of material from chamber 14.

While I have specifically described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is contemplated that various changes may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of my invention, and I therefore desire to be limited only by the claims.

I claim:

1. A measuring and dispensing container comprising a storage chamber, a measuring chamber below and in communication with said storage container, a cover on said storage chamber, a valve seat between said storage chamber and said measuring chamber, a valve member engaging said valve seat and extending through said cover, first manual means on said valve member for disengaging said valve member from said valve seat, a second valve seat in a downwardly facing opening in the bottom of said measuring chamber, a spring secured to said measuring chamber, a valve plug secured to said spring.

and engaging said second valve seat and second manual means on said spring for deforming said spring to move said upwardly tapered valve plug away from said second valve seat.

2. A measuring and dispensing container comprising a storage chamber, a measuring chamber below and in communication with said storage chamber a cover on said storage chamber, a first valve seat between said storage chamber and said measuring chamber, valve means engaging said first valve seat and having one end extending through said cover, means on said one end of said valve means for moving said valve means out of engagement with said first valve seat to establish a flow of material from said storage chamber to said measuring chamber, a second valve seat in a downwardly facing opening in the bottom of said measuring chamber, a resilient member secured to said measuring chamber, an upwardly tapered valve plug on said resilient member and engaging said second valve seat, and a handle on said resilient member whereby said resilient member may be deformed to remove said upwardly tapered valve plug from said second valve seat to establish a flow of material from said measuring chamber.

3. A measuring and dispensing container comprising a body having a storage chamber, a measuring chamber below and in communication with said storage chamber and a base portion below and in communication with said measuring chamber, a cover detachably secured to said storage chamber, an elongated valve member in said storage chamber, said valve member being slidably mounted in and having one end extending through said cover, a resilient member on said valve member and engaging said cover to urge said valve member downwardly with respect to said cover, a lever pivotally secured to said valvemember at said one end of said valve member, said lever engaging said cover as a fulcrum to raise said valve member against the force of said resilient member, a first valve seat between said storage chamber and said measuring chamber, a first valve plug on said elongated valve member and engaging said first valve seat to control the flow of material therethrough, a second valve seat between said measuring chamber and said base portion, a spring member secured to said base portion, a second valve plug on said spring member and engaging said second valve seat, and a handle on said spring member by whichsaid spring member may be deformed to disengage said second valve plug from said second valve seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 265,019 Chamberlin Sept. 26, 1882 524,900 James Aug. 21, 1894 752,459 Mathews Feb. 16, 1904 797,842 Cousen Aug. 22, 1905 1,768,091 Adair .a June 24, 1930 1,915,490 Gere June 27, 1933 2,335,312 Rotheim Nov. 30,1943 

